PRESS STATEMENT: CAIR-Chicago Calls on Northwestern U. to Address Anti-Muslim Comments by RSL Senior Leader
- For Immediate Release and Distribution -
SCOTT OLSON, GETTY IMAGES
(CHICAGO, IL, 10/17/2024) – The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed deep concern over recent alleged anti-Muslim and anti-Arab incidents reported by students at Northwestern University.
Students from Northwestern's Muslim Cultural Students Association (McSA) and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) have reported that a senior leader within the university’s Religious & Spiritual Life (RSL) allegedly made derogatory comments comparing Muslim students to "dogs" during a meeting about their access to prayer spaces during Ramadan.
Despite repeated calls from the students for resources, accountability, and transparency, Northwestern University has failed to publicly address the matter or take meaningful action to rectify the situation.
SEE MORE: NU SJP, NU McSA Joint Statement
[NOTE: Earlier this month, CAIR’s national office Northwestern University as an “institution of particular concern” due to its reported creation of a hostile campus environment for Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish and other students, staff, and faculty opposing the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza.]
"The university's silence in response to these reported bigoted remarks only perpetuates a culture of hostility toward Muslim and Arab students," said Ahmed Rehab, CAIR-Chicago's Executive Director. "Incidents like these, left unaddressed, create an unsafe and discriminatory environment for students trying to practice their faith, while undermining the very principles of inclusion and equality that Northwestern claims to uphold."
In addition to the offensive comments, students have also raised concerns over the administration's new demonstration policies, which appear to target pro-Palestinian voices on campus by restricting peaceful protests. These policies, combined with the university's disproportionate disciplinary actions against those who protest Palestine-related issues, have further inflamed tensions and deepened concerns about anti-Muslim bias.
CAIR-Chicago stands in solidarity with the Muslim and Arab students at Northwestern and calls on the university to publicly condemn the actions of the RSL senior leader, institute disciplinary measures, issue a formal apology, and implement structural changes to ensure that the voices of marginalized students are heard and respected.
"Students deserve to feel safe and supported on their campus, regardless of their background or beliefs," said Maggie Slavin, CAIR-Chicago's Operations Manager. "Northwestern must take immediate steps to address the serious concerns raised by these students and work toward creating a genuinely inclusive environment for all."
CAIR-Chicago’s mission is to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote tolerance.
CONTACT: Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago, 202-870-0166, arehab@cair.com; Maggie Slavin, Operations Manager of CAIR-Chicago, 815-590-3991, mslavin@cair.com; Hafsa Haider, Communications Coordinator of CAIR-Chicago, 561-317-7509, hhaider@cair.com